All-time NFL great running back Jim Brown has died at the age of 87 at home in Los Angeles

Former NFL legend turned actor Jim Brown has died aged 87 at his home in Los Angeles. The ex-Cleveland Browns running back passed away on Thursday night after a battle with dementia, with his wife Monique by his side.

Former NFL legend turned actor Jim Brown has died aged 87 at his home in Los Angeles.

The ex-Cleveland Browns running back passed away on Thursday night after a battle with dementia, with his wife Monique by his side.

A source told DailyMail.com: ‘It was very peaceful and he was surrounded by his loved ones. He was a true Hollywood great and he will be missed.’ 

Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, after playing for the team for nine seasons, from 1957 to 1965. 

Paying tribute to the iconic star, the Cleveland Browns said in a statement: ‘Legend. Leader. Activist. Visionary. 

‘It’s impossible to describe the profound love and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim’s incredible life and legacy. 

The star was chosen the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league’s record books during his short career

Jim Brown has died aged 87 with his wife Monique by his side at his Los Angeles home. Pictured in February

Jim Brown has died aged 87 with his wife Monique by his side at his Los Angeles home. Pictured in February

‘We mourn his passing, but celebrate the indelible light he brought to the world. Our hearts are with Jim’s family, loved ones, and all those he impacted along the way.’

The star was chosen the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league’s record books during his short career. 

His wife Monique posted a heartbreaking tribute to her husband, writing: ‘It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my husband, Jim Brown.

‘He passed peacefully last night at our LA home. To the world he was an activist, actor and football star.

‘To our family he was a loving and wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.’

Brown was considered one of the best running backs of all time, and was selected to the NFL 100 all-time team in 2020. 

He was ranked as the greatest football player every by Sporting News in 2002, and was selected in the first round of the 1957 draft. 

The star was named as Pro Bowler every year he played and led the team to the league championship three times, winning the title in 1964.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said: ‘On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Monique and their family.

‘Jim Brown was a gifted athlete — one of the most dominant players to ever step on any athletic field — but also a cultural figure who helped promote change.

The star was chosen the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league's record books during his short career

The star was chosen the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league’s record books during his short career

His wife Monique posted a heartbreaking tribute to her husband, describing him as a 'wonderful husband, father and grandfather'

His wife Monique posted a heartbreaking tribute to her husband, describing him as a ‘wonderful husband, father and grandfather’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD_sqMKZRmQ

Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, after playing for the team for nine season, from 1957 to 1965

Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971, after playing for the team for nine season, from 1957 to 1965

After his retirement in 1964 he became an actor, appearing in more than 30 films - including 'Any Given Sunday' and 'The Dirty Dozen'

After his retirement in 1964 he became an actor, appearing in more than 30 films – including ‘Any Given Sunday’ and ‘The Dirty Dozen’

‘During his nine-year NFL career, which coincided with the civil rights movement here at home, he became a forerunner and role model for athletes being involved in social initiatives outside their sport. 

‘He inspired fellow athletes to make a difference, especially in the communities in which they lived.’

The actor is survived by his second wife, Monique, and their child. He was divorced after 13 years of marriage from Sue Brown, with whom he had three children.

Brown was named MVP three times in his career, and led the league in rushing in eight of the nine years he played. 

He rushed for 12,312 yards and held a 5.2 yards per carry average over his career – once describing his arms as ‘protectors and weapons’ in an interview with NFL films. 

The football player ran at least 100 yards in 58 of his 118 regular-season games, never missing a game. 

He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in seven seasons, including 1,527 yards in one 12-game season and 1,863 in a 14-game season. 

Brown was named MVP three times in his career, and led the league in rushing in eight of the nine years he played

Brown was named MVP three times in his career, and led the league in rushing in eight of the nine years he played

He rushed for 12,312 yards and held a 5.2 yards per carry average over his career - once describing his arms as 'protectors and weapons' in an interview with NFL films

He rushed for 12,312 yards and held a 5.2 yards per carry average over his career – once describing his arms as ‘protectors and weapons’ in an interview with NFL films

Brown was born in February 1935 in St Simons, Georgia, and was the dominant player of his era before he retired aged 30 –  in what most considered was his prime.

A statue went up of him outside the FirstEnergy Stadium in 2016, and no Browns player has worn his No 32 since his retirement.  

After stepping back from football he became an actor, appearing in more than 30 films – including ‘Any Given Sunday’ and ‘The Dirty Dozen.’

Among his films were ‘100 Rifles,’ ‘Mars Attacks!’ Spike Lee’s ‘He Got Game,’ and the satire ‘I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,’ in which he parodied the blaxploitation genre.

In 2002, Brown was the subject of Lee’s HBO documentary ‘Jim Brown: All-American.’

Brown went on to become a prominent leader in the black power movement during the civil rights struggles of the 1960s.

In later years, he worked to curb gang violence in LA and founded Amer-I-Can, a program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts.

Brown himself had several run-ins with the law, and was arrested half-a-dozen times in his life. 

He went on trial for assault and battery in 1965 after an 18-year-old accused him of giving her whiskey and forcing her to have sex.

Brown (pictured with Raquel Welch) starred in One Hundred Rifles in 1969

Brown (pictured with Raquel Welch) starred in One Hundred Rifles in 1969 

The actor is survived by his second wife, Monique, and their child. He was divorced after 13 years of marriage from Sue Brown, with whom he had three children. Pictured with his family

The actor is survived by his second wife, Monique, and their child. He was divorced after 13 years of marriage from Sue Brown, with whom he had three children. Pictured with his family

Brown was accused of throwing a model from a balcony in 1968, and acquitted of assaulting a man after a traffic accident in 1969. 

After assaulting a golfing partner he was fined and spent a day in jail . Brown also had charges of rape, sexual battery and assault in 1985 dropped.

In June 1999, Brown’s wife, Monique, called 911, saying Brown had smashed her car with a shovel and threatened to kill her. 

It was a claim that she later recanted at trial, and was acquitted of a charge of domestic threats – but was convicted of misdemeanor vandalism.

Brown ended up being sentenced to six months in jail after refusing to attend domestic violence counseling. 

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